The Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-11-23, Page 371 ' \
FARM PAGE' •
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ODE 1 ICI1 SIGNAIa,STAIZ., NOVElViOgR23,.,197&,-*PAIGE 15A
�ne foot in the
lurrow' by0.8,
Farming is a precarious business.
Ask the farmers. They'll tell you that. in spite of
higher returns at the farm Batt' this year, hundreds of
young men.whu started farming the last five to 10 years
are getting out.
They are being forced out.
1\'iIl Carleton, one of many earthy philosophers pro-
duced in North America a c'entur'y ago, said it suc-
cinctly: Worm or beetle. drought or tempest, on a farm-
er's land may fall. Rach is loaded full o' ruin. but a
mortgage beats 'enc all.
Too many young men,..are now reaping a bitter har-
vest of broken dreams and disappointments.
These people planted huge investments several
years ago. They came fresh from agricultural schools.
bright and full of hope for the future.
T(.) (,cho Will Carleton's phrases, farming has always
been precarious in this century. The exodus has been
steady for 75 years. No one will ever know the amount
of help given to the industrial work force by those wh/
left the farm for the cities.
In 1940. Canada had more than three million farm-
ers. Hy 1970. Only eight years ago, the number dropped
to 1.4 million, a fantastic exodus.
It's cash flow that is killing them.
Debts are simply too large to survive any sharp de-
cline in profits. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
probably the best organization in the province to speak
for farmers, has estimated net profits for farmers have
fallen by 42 per cent since 1976.
I1 (depends. of course, on the type of operation. If
you're a corn grower..the crunch began in 1976 when
prices slumped to $2 a bushel. If you started when you
figured on $3.50 a bushel and you. end up getting $2 a
bushel, you can imagine the explaining necessary to
c•onvinc'e your hanker to keep going.
Beef farmers were hit even harder. They have been
(encs ,, r aui"r, -.1,1 by B„h Odle. R,i f im„a (, t N3B ,( /
using red ink since 1974. Only in'the last six months
have they seen any light. Only hog farmers have been
ruling high—on the hug, if you'll excuse the terrible
pun—fur any length. of tint('.
It's a shams' that one of Canada's most productive
basic industries should be hovring on the Verge of
batikruplc'y constantly. Not lung ago. silme statistics
were released by the department of agriculture and
food w'hic'h indicated more than 50 pet' cent of all farm-
ers in. this province are forced to hold down two jobs.
They become school bus drivers, janitors. pati -time
\•eider, snowblower otlUCkwha-
lever they can find—to stay in on the farts.
:ire there loo many farmers'' Sh`ituld the nation sit
back and let natural attrition weed then( out''
Personally, I think it would be a disastrous mistake.
-No other -business in the•world•is as 'efficient as •a fain,
ily farm. No other unit is as closely -knit.
What's the answer:' For starters, this country (mild
help farmers by some protective tariffs. The trade defi-
cit continues 10 mount. Fruit and vegetable growers
are hard hit.
The only agricultural commodity where Canada has
a net balance is in grains. wheat notably. Some trade
harriers in other areas would give farriers more confi-
dence. Other nations have done it. The European Econ-
omic ('onununity has made it almost impossible for the
rest of the world to compete with those nations in agri-
culture.
Longer term loans with lower interest rates would
help. Some tax relief. especially for young people got ng
int() business. is anther idea that could be pursued.
Not being an economist, I r'an't give idem on financ-
ing but much could be dome to encourage the farmer.
When big corporations take over agriculture, prices
for food will go so high we'll (n(1 up existing instead of
living.
Bryan Durst of Goderich (right) and Frank Thoren of Strathroy (centre),
were recipients of the A.E. Wardlaw Memorial Scholarships presented by
Professor N.C. Stoskopf, Director of the Diploma Courses, OAC, at the
Ontario Agricultural College awards presentation on October 4 at the
University of Guelph. The two scholarships of $200 each are offered to
outstanding students -entering the Diploma in Agriculture program. These
awards are based on academic achievement and extra -curricular activities
in high school.
Oxford good oats
A new variety of -oats,
Oxford, has added
another page to the
success story of the
University of Guelph's
cereal breeding program.
Crop scientists,
sponsored by the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture
and Food, developed this
new variety to withstand
the red leaf virus.
"Three years ago, red
leaf was a very
destructive disease,”
says Dr. Ernie Rein -
bergs, crop scientist. "At
that time,, none of the
recommended oat
varieties had much
tolerance to this
disease."
FARM _ ..
CLASSIFIED
SECTION
A. For sale
A QUANTITY of choice
conditioned, first cut hay.
Duncan Farrish, phone
395-2728.-47,48
B. Custom work
BULLDOZING, Allis-
Chalmers No. 650, with
six way hydraulic blade.
Bill Robinson, RR 2,
• Auburn. 529- 785 7.-43TF
CLAY —
Silo Unloaders
Feeders
Cleaners
Stabling
Leg Elevators
Liquid Manure
Equipment
Hog Equipment
BUTLER —
Silo Unloaders
Feeders
In several years of Conveyors
regional tests, Oxford
showed good tolerance to
red leaf and septoria. It
was available com-
mercially on a limited
basis last spring, and
produced well, says Dr.
Reinbergs.
High acidity can stunt alfalfa stands
Farmers don't have to
put up with stunted
patches in alfalfa stands -
they can be corrected.
These small patches,
where plants are only one
third to one half a,&bigh.cr s specia St.._:
as the rest brifie7 stand, - Alfalfa grows best in
may be caused by high alkaline soils with a PH
soil acidity, says Harvey of more than 6:0. Soil
Wright, Ontario Ministry tests of stunted patches
of Agriculture and Food usually range from 5.4 to
5 5' Some-test-srshow--p14 seems to occur in areas
levels as low as 4.8. where corn is grown
"This problem seems
to affect sandy soils more
than heavier soils," says
Mr. Wright. "It also
Russell Bolton of Seaforth seems to have a •
permanent hold on the World Hay championship
as'he won the crown for the seventh year in a row
last week at the 50th annual Royal Winter Fair.
Russell, left, received the White Farm Equip-
ment trophy from D.A. Stewart for his effort.
(photo by Canada Pictures Ltd.)
Scotiabank Z
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
Presents Our 2nd Annual
FARM APPRECIATION WEEK
Nov. 27th - Dec. lst.
- MEET MR. WILLIAM A. STEWART, FORMER MINISTER OF
AGRICULTURE, AT THE MAITLAND COUNTRY CLUB ON
THE 29th, 2:00-4:00 P.M.
- VIEW AWARD WINNING 4-H DISPLAYS IN THE BRANCH
ALL WEEK
-VISIT OUR FARM TRAILER ON THE SQARE, GODERICH
MANAGER
PETER M.
SHEPHARD
Scotiabank
tir�l
��i
THE BANK 00 NOVA SCOTIA
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because of the large
amounts of nitrogen
fertilizer used."
Mr. Wright says he has
discovered several pat-
ches in southwestern
Ontario, from Guelph to
Ridgetown.
Unlike potash
deficiencies, low pH can
be difficult to spot. Plants
show no distinguishable
external symptoms, only
general unthriftiness.
"In the first year or
two, the plants will be
Pioneer
Seed
Corn
in the
Goderich & Clinton area
Call
Ray Brown
529-7260 or
524-8114
stunted," says Mr.
Wright. "However,
because of poor nutrition,
they usually die during
the winter."
The proper way to
diagnose the problem is
to conduct soil tests of
both good and poor areas,
he says. These tests will
show the discrepancies in
soil acidity.
Once the samples have
been analyzed, farmers
can apply lime at
recommended rates to
bring the soil back to an
acceptable pH.
"However, because.
lime must be mixed into
the soil, farmers must
wait until the field is
ready for plowing to
correct the
problem," "There's
nothing you
can do until you're ready
to plow the field, but
conscientious farmers
should test, and make a
note now to correct this
problem, before seeding
the next stand."
WATER WELL
DRILLING
".'76 YEARS EXPERIENCE"
• FARM • SUBURBAN • INDUSTRIAL • MUNICIPAL •
• FREE ESTIMATES
• GUARANTEED WELLS
• FAST MODERN EQUIPMENT
• 4 ROTARY & PERCUSSION DRILLS
"OUR EXPERIENCE ASSURES
LOWER COST WATER WELLS"
DAVIDSON
WELL DRILLING
LIMITED
4 Rotaryand Percussion Drills
PHONE 357-1960
WiNGHAM
Collect Calls Accepted
"ONTARIO'S FINEST WATER WELLS SINCE 1900"
A Management Seminar
at Sandpiper Inn, Clinton (Vanastra)
on Wednesday, December 6th, 1978 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
REGISTRATION: 8:30 A.M. •°
Would you like to attend?
If you are interested, please complete the registration coupon, and mail
it along with your cheque for '30 per person. For further information,
please contact:
Peter Huxtable
at tel.: 271-5650 COLLECT
Management Seminar, Federal Business Development Bank,
1036 Ontario Street, Stratford, Ont.
1 1 will attend the business management seminar
at Clinton on December 6th, 1918
Name(s)
1111 Address .
1
Postal Code ' Tel.:. -----
II Registration Fee df '30 Includeiis luncli4ibn. '
IOW — slim moms N j• ® lam fin I i — m dim lllls Isms
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FARMATIC —
Mills
Augers, etc.
ACORN —
' Cleaners
Heated Waterers
WESTEEL-ROSCO
Granaries
B & L - Hog Panelling
LOWRY FARM SYSTEMS
RR 1, Kincardine, Ont.
Phone 395-5286
LARGEST STOCK
IN THE COUNTY
WORK
BOOTS
—Industrial
— Farm
— Factory
Plain or safety toe
PUNCTURE PROOF
SOLES
ROSS
SHOE SHOP
142 The Square
Goderich, Ont.
J.J. ,(Jim) MULHERN.
GENERAL INSURANCE
PROTECTION FOR
CAR, BUSINESS, HOME
& FARM
46 WEST ST.
GODERICH
...524-7878
JOHNSTON BROS.
Bothwell Ltd.
New Gravel Prices
CASH & CARRY
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
15`
95'
90`
95'
95c
'1.75
95
40`
FILL
STONEDUST
SAND
CRUSHED GRAVEL
CEMENT GRAVEL
DRAINAGE STONE
OVERSIZE STONE
PIT RUN
OPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY
DUNGANNON PITS ONLY
529-7947
111
MANAGEMENT
SERVICES
Taxation:
An Introduction
Case Study
FEDERAL
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT BANK
Income Taxes sho
Now kept to a minimum. r�htfullY
is
about: the time to find out
Income
Tax Cat Calculation '
.
Year Endlatjon'
Incorporation.
Dividends, '
t on Viand to
questions.
answer